Saville

The then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, stated this on 29 January 1998: “I am setting up the inquiry because the relatives of those that died that day have the right to expect us, their government, the British Government, to try to establish the truth of the events of that day. I am interested in their interests, their concerns and their sense of grievance, not in the sense of grievance of people who’ve engaged in terrorist acts.”

The self serving views of British Prime Minsiter on what constitutes a terrorist in Ireland is not one that any Nationalists or Republicans will have any regard for.

We will have more nonsnese on Tuesday from Cameron as he lectures us on how great the British army are instead of condemning the actions of his predescor in setting up the Widgery tribunal to pervert the course of justice.

Britain’s presence in Ireland is tolerated (by Ireland) under the GFA but they should not mistake that for moral authority and pompous utterances in relation to their own misdeeds and their cover up only underline that.

Cynic

So if Saville leads to prosecutions, will it start a trend and can we indict some members of the last Government for war crimes in prosecuting the war in Iraq on the basis of falsified data?

After all, what is sauce for the squaddie is sauce for the donkey that sent him there

Big Maggie

Good luck with that.

Cynic

“Britain’s presence in Ireland is tolerated (by Ireland) under the GFA”

Gee thank you Sammy. As my family have lived here for many many generations and I yet I am still part of the ‘British presence’ I am delighted that you and the Irish Government and people ‘tolerate’ me like some pet dog allowed to sleep in my own kennel. Woof woof old chap.

Now what were you saying about ” moral authority and pompous utterances”

Cynic

“Sinn Fein says 400 names of people killed by Army since 1969 erected on hillside overlooking Glenshane Pass outside Dungiven”

Perhaps we could erect two memorials

(i)one to all those murdered by PIRA

Cynic

(ii) a second in thanks to all those arrested last week doing their best to further socialism and undermine the Euro by printing €700m in forged Euro notes.

In this case it would be for finally exposing (again) SF’s links to organised crime

They haven’t gone away you know. They just have inky fingers and secret royal pardons

dodrade

Did they bother to get planning permission this time?

Cynic

Lord knows. Anyway, they erected them in a desolate hole. Still, it will give the sheep something to look at

boris1

Its not within Irelands power to tolerate, or not.

Their position is simply to accept.

A position they adopt, and will continue to adopt, with humility..

Itwas SammyMcNally whatdoneit

Cynic,

“As my family have lived here for many many generations and I yet I am still part of the ‘British presence’ I am delighted that you and the Irish Government and people ‘tolerate’ me like some pet dog allowed to sleep in my own kennel. Woof woof old chap.”

I was of course referring to the British politcal presense in Ireland I would not for a moment suggest the departure of your goodself or or your family or any other members of the Irish unionist tradition.

Cynic

You would just deny me my right to self determination guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights?

Itwas SammyMcNally whatdoneit

Cynic,

Ireland have signed an International agreement with Britian (GFA) which sets out the constitutional future of Ulster (6 counties) and will be respected by Ireland but that does not mean that Ulster is not viewed by most people, including most British people as a gerrymandered sectarian state.

That is why Britian has no moral authority in Ulster just repsonsibilty for a legacy issue about which most British people are deeply ashamed.

“Most British people” think NI is a “gerrymandered sectarian state ” and are “deeply ashamed ” about Britain’s role in NI ?

I have lived in both England and Scotland and I have known very, very few people , Catholic or Protestant, who would agree with your assertions. Quite the contrary.

Itwas SammyMcNally whatdoneit

milesmajor,

“I have lived in both England and Scotland and I have known very, very few people , Catholic or Protestant, who would agree with your assertions. Quite the contrary”

Really? Well explain the following then.

When the Tory party declared no strategic or selfish interest in Ulster there were no howls of protest – could you imagine if they said that about Kent, or Wales or even the Falklands?

wee buns

Yes Blair should get at least 10 yrs.

wee buns

As a young person living in England & Scotland during the 80/90’s I was constantly inundated with apologiies for the British occupation of the six, by ordinary people everywhere.

Cynic

Who would object to someone not being selfish? And NI had no strategic value to the UK as the increased range of aircraft rendered it unnecessary as an airbase.

So what’s to get uptight-about Sammy. Do clam down. It’s mostly;y all in your head. One of those Aluminium Foil Hats some people make may help

Cynic

Most people in Britain wouldst know what gerrymandered meant

Cynic

Sammy

I lived in the rest of the UK for 10 years. You are talking nonsense. About 75% of people there have no idea where NI is never mind holding any collective guilt. But yet again you try to do me (and Unionists) down simply on the basis of my/our ethnic background. That’s a simplistic and fundamentally racist analysis. Just think about what you have really been saying on here. Not very edifying I am afraid.

Western Approaches

What’s wrong with what Blair said?

Thirteen people were shot dead in Derry on the same day dozens of armed state employees were in their neighbourhood. I think that’s enough coincidence for a state inquiry.

It remains to be seen whether the inquiry serves merely the state, or the truth.

So you only maintain sovereignty and provide assistance where you have strategic or “selfish” interests ? What a cynic you are !

I thought that British troops were sent into NI to help maintain peace in what was admittedly a flawed state at the time. There were occasions when they made serious mistakes,sometimes compounded by Army incompetence. The British people were probably more angry than ashamed on these occasions.But I think they understood what the consequences might have been if the troops had not been sent in the first place.